Allan Arbus, "Dr Sidney Freeman" in M*A*S*H, 1918 - 2013 RIP

The American actor Allan Arbus has died in Los Angeles at the age of 95.



He was originally involved in a photography business with his first wife, the alternative and controversial photographer Diane Arbus (who committed suicide after their divorce) and didn't start acting until his 40's.

He starred in over 45 films & TV series, including Law & Order, In the Heat of the Night, L.A. Law, Matlock, Starsky and Hutch, and Judging Amy, but he found fame as the psychiatrist Dr Sidney Freeman in M*A*S*H.

Arbus only appeared in 12 out of the 251 episodes but became one of the most popular fringe characters. When Gary Burghoff decided to leave the show and his character "Radar" was written out of the series Arbus was offered the chance of his character joining the cast on a permanent basis but he decided not to be more involved as he feared being typecast. In the M*A*S*H 30th Anniversary Special that aired on Fox in 2002, Arbus was the only non-regular cast member to be featured on the special. He appeared in both the first series and the very last episode.

Nobody ever understood what his best known comment meant - "Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice: Pull down your pants and slide on the ice"

He is survived by his second wife and three children.